BRUSSELS, Oct 15 (Reuters) - The European Union's trade chief said on Thursday she hopes Russia keeps open the option of joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO) unilaterally.
"Russia needs to see strategically it is better to be in the WTO. It doesn't prevent it having strong relationships with their near neighbours," EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton told Reuters in an interview.
Moscow says it wants to join simultaneously with Belarus and Kazakhstan. It has been trying for more than a decade to join the 153-member trade body and is the largest economy to remain outside it. (Editing by Dale Hudson and Angus MacSwan)